Mounting means for electromagnetic devices



April 1966 w. D. MAYNARD ET AL 3,244,941

MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICES Filed March 4, 1963 of the given system.

United States Patent C 3,244,941 MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICES Wheeler D. Maynard, Mention, and Karl W. Abendroth,

Rochester, N.Y., assignors to General Signal Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,726 4 Claims. (Cl. 317-419) This invention relates to mounting means for electromagnetic devices, and, more particularly, pertains to such a mounting means in which a plurality of plug connectors cooperate with a mounting panel for receiving electromagnetic devices and coacting to form wire guide channels for external circuit connections to the electromagnetic devices.

In many systems currently used wherein electromagnetic devices such, for example, as relays are employed, each capable of completing a plurality of electrical circuits, it is the common practice to mount such devices on relays on a mounting panel and to electrically connect the plurality of external electrical circuits to each device or relay as by means of soldering to meet the requirements In this type of operation, many problems have been encountered such as, for example,

the undue time required to wire such relay panels, the

sometimes inaccessibility of circuits as wired, the undue time required to change or repair a given circuit, and the like.

Described briefly, the invention proopsed herein com- 1 prises -a combination including a plug connector which is so constructed that it may be readily attached to and detached from a plug connector mounting panel and an electromagnetic device or relay which may have its plurality of contacts for completing external electrical circuits connected to such electrical circuits by means of readily attachable and detachable connections made through the plug connector. Moreover, it is further proposed to provide a combination including a plurality of the plug c-onnectors each having an electromagnetic device or relay associated therewith when mounted on a single mounting panel for facilitating wiring of the respective associated circuits by providing Wire guide means with each of the plug connectors so that the wiring is guided in an orderly arrangement permitting rapid location and replacement or repair of a given circuit.

Each plug connector includes a resilient mounting means which permits that plug connector to be readily tion of the plug connector body which includes a free end adapted to be moved upon insertion of the plug connector into mounted position on the mounting panel and which includes a retaining lip for cooperating with a portion of such mounting panel when fully inserted. The abovementioned aperture of the plug connector is substantially centrally located in the body portion of the plug connector so as to receive the shank of a bolt included with an 7 associated eletcromagnetic device or relay to which may be attached a fastening means or nut for permanently securing the electromagnetic device or relay to the plug connector-and the mounting panel.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide mounting means for electromagnetic devices in which a plug connector cooperates with a mounting panel for receiving an electromagnetic device and distinctively guiding the wires comprising external electrical circuits adapted to electrical connection to the circuits of the electromagnetic device.

Another object of this invention is to provide mounting means for electromagnetic devices in which a plug connector is temporarily retained in a mounted position on its mounting panel upon insertion and permanently secured to its mounting panel and an electromagnetic device upon attachment thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide mounting means for electromagnetic device in which each of a plurality of plug connectors cooperating with a mounting panel includes means for distinctively guiding the wires comprising external electrical circuits connected to the electromagnetic devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide mounting means for electromagnetic devices in which electrical circuits for the electromagnetic devices may be connected and disconnected in a minimum of time when employing a plurality of plug connectors physically cooperative with the mounting panel where one is provided for each of the electromagnetic devices.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part pointed out from the accompanying drawings and in part pointed out as the description of the invention progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts as designated in the accompanying figures by like reference characters and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating the combination of a plug connector in its mounting panel and having a relay permanently secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a plug connector particularly illustrating the retaining means and projected relay guides molded into the plug connector;

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a plurality of mounted plug connectors and illustrating typical wiring connections made to the plurality of plug connectors and wire channel- FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a mounting panel and particularly illustrating the form thereof adapted to reccive a plug connector; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of 55 of FIG. 4 and illustrating the relative positioning of :a plug connector when being inserted into a mounted position on a mounting panel.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a combination of the invention disclosed herein includes, in general, a mounting panel 1d, a plug connector 11 and a relay 12, all connected as shown. The mounting panel 10 may be comprised of some suitable and rigid material such as plastic, aluminum alloy, or the like so that two openings may be cut therein for receiving the plug connector 11. In FIG. 1, these openings are indicated at 13 and 14 and are separated by a strip 15 of the mounting panel 10.

The plug connector 11 includes a recess 17 into which the strip 15 of mounting panel 10 is positioned when the plug connector 11 is inserted into position on mounting panel 10. The plug connector 11, being substantially rectangular in form, includes on one side thereof and at opposite end corners retaining lips 19 and 20 which are molded to the plug connector 11. Along the opposite edge of the plug connector 11 and substantially in the middle thereof is a resilient portion 22 which at one end thereof forms part of the body of plug connector 11. The free end 23 of the resilient portion 22 is positioned to move in a cut-out portion 24 of the body of plug connector 11 as such resilient portion 22 is engaged by a per tion of the mounting panel along a sloping surface 26 included as part of the free end 23. A retaining shoulder or lip 27 is formed by the diagonal surface 26 of the resilient portion 22 near the free end 23. An extended retaining lip 28 is molded into the body of plug connector 11 which is, used in cooperation with retaining lip 2'7 to engage portions of the mounting panel 11 to temporarily retain the plug connector 11 in the mounting panel 10 when inserted.

A plurality of apertures 30 are cut into the body portion of the plug connector 11 and arranged into two groups, one group appearing above and the other group appearing below the portion of the mounting panel 10 when the plug connector 11 is inserted therein. Each of these apertures is adapted to receive an electrical terminal connector (not shown) connected to a wire see FIG. 3) which for-ms part of an external electrical circuit. A pair, of extended portions 32 and 33 are molded to the body of plug connector 11 at the end thereof including retaining lip 19, while a similar pair of extended portions 34 and 35 are molded to the body of plug connector 11 at the end thereof including retaining lip 20. The free ends of each pair of extended portions 32-33 and 34-35 respectively include projectingportions 36417 an-d-38-39 spaced apart a distance as generally determined by the size or diameter of wire employed to electrically connect the electrical terminal connectors employed to external electrical circuits. Openings 40 and 41 are formed between the pairs of extended portions 32-33 and 34-35 each of which comprises a wire channeling guide for the wires forming the external electrical circuits associated with that end of the plug connector 11 and relay 12.

The relay 12may be of a type which includes a number of terminals particularly arranged and of a size to suitably lit into the apertures 30 for making electrical contact with external electrical circuits. One such relay which is suitable in the combination of the present invention is disclosed in the pending application Ser. No. 142,391, filed on October 2, 1961, by W. D. Maynard, a co-inventor of this invention. Such relay as disclosed in the pending application Ser. No. 142,391 includes a structure of the form partially indicated in FIG. 1. More particularly, a retaining bolt 42 is suitably secured to the housing of relay 12 and is of a diameter to project through an aperture 43 (see FIG. 2) cut in the body portion of plug connector 11 and an aperture 44 (see FIG. 4) cut in portion 15 of mounting panel 10. A nut 45 cooperates with bolt 42 for holding the plug connector 11 and relay .12 securely and permanently to the mounting panel 10.

During themounting operation, the relay 12 isguided into proper position by means of projecting guide legs 48 (also see FIG. 2) molded into the corners of the body portion of plug connector 11 and opposite to the extended portions 32-33 and 3435. Each of the projecting guide legs 48 is right angled in form as indicated more pa-rticularly in FIG. 2 by reference character 50.

FIG. 2, in addition, illustrates the plug connector 11 in an isometric view for particularly showing the recessed portion 24 in the body of plug connector 11 wherein the resilient portion 22 is movable. In addition, the retaining lips 19 and 20 molded to the body portion of plug connector 11 are shown positioned relative to an extended lip portion 53, both of which engage a portion of the mounting panel 10 when the plug connector is inserted through the openings 13 and 14 into position. it is noted here that the width of the mounting panel 10 is such that it suitably fits between the retaining lips 19 and 20 and the extended lip portion 53 and at the same time is retained between the extended lip portion 25 and the shoulder or lip 27 of the resilient portion 22 (see FIG. 1).

The manner in which external electrical circuits are connected respectively to a plurality of plug connectors 11 is shown more particularly in the illustration of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, it is noted that four plug connectors 11 are mounted on mounting panel In and spaced i :apart to coact for forming wire guide channels with each lhaving a relay 12 permanently secured thereto by means (of a respective bolt 42 and nut 45-, as shown. I

To more specifically show the manner in which the exrternal electrical circuits may be connected by connectors to the apertures 30 for respective ones of the tour lug conznectors 11 illustrated in FIG. 3, typical wires iepresent- ;ing external electrical circuit are included. More specifically, and with reference to the upper right-hand posiztioned plug connector 11, wires 55 and 56 are guided :through the wire guide opening 41 to respective apertures L30 included with the upper group of apertures 30 and con ruected thereto by terminal connectors 57. Wires 58 and 559 are guided through the opening 40 associated with extended portions 32 and 33 and are connected to terminal connectors 57 inserted into respective apertures 30.

For the upper left-hand positioned plug connector 11, Wires 61 and 62 are guided through the opening 41 to respective apertures 30 of the upper group of apertures, "while wires 63 and 64 are guided through the opening 40 and to respective apertures 30 of the lower group of apertures 30, all connected thereto by terminal connectors 57. For the lower. right-hand positioned plug connector 11, wires 66 and 67 are guided. through the openingAl and to-respective apertures 30 included with the upper group of apertures, while wires 59 and 70 are guided through the opening 40 to respective apertures 30 of the lower group, all connected thereto by terminal connectors 57.. For the lower left-hand positioned plug connector 11, wires 67 and 71 are guided through the opening '41 to respective apertures 30 of the upper group of apertures, While wires 70, 73 and 74 are guided through opening 4t? to respective apertures 39 of the lower group of apertures, all connected thereto byte'rminal connectors 57.

In the typical examples of Wiring as illustrated in FIG. 3, it is noted that none of the wires extend across the portions 15 of the mounting panel 10. Such wires normally do not cross such portions 15 in that the respective "wire guide openings 40 and 41 of the plug connectors 11 are provided for specifically guiding or channeling the \wires leading to the external electrical circuits, thus obvi- -at1ng any possible short circuiting of the external electrical circuits as may be caused -'by the electrical connect1on to the nut 45 or 'bolt 42 for each respective plug connector 11. In addition, although not specifically shown in FIG. 3-, it is here suggested that wires may be channeled vertically bet-ween horizontally positioned plug connectors 11 adjacent vertical strips or portions of the mounting panel 11).

Referring now to FIG. :4, the m t-ing panel 10 is shown separately to particularly illustrate the form thereof which cooperates with a plug connector 11 when it is being and is inserted. More particularly, the edges 76, 77, '78 and 79 forming or defin-ii'ig the end boundaries of the cut-out portions 13 and 14 are shown to bebeveled. These beveled edges 76*79 cooperate with a plug connector 11 when it is being inserted into position on the mounting panel 10. p

The sectional view of FIG. 5 illustrates in particular how a plug connector 11 cooperates with the beveled edges 76-79 when it is being inserted into positiono'n panel 10. More particularly, the plug connector 11 shown in dotted form is illustrated as being partially inserted into position on mounting panel 14 as the retaining lips 19 (not shown) and '21) are positioned adjacent to the inside or rear surface of mounting panel 10, while the extended lip 53, being 'beveled, is positioned adjacent to the front or outside surface of mounting panel 10.

In continuing with the insertion of plug connector 11 into position on mounting panel 10, the resilient portion 2 2 has its sloping surface 26 at least partially engaged by the beveled edge 79 of the mounting panel 10 to cause resilient portion 22 to move in the direction of arrow 80 so that the outer-most edge of lip 27 emerges through the cut-out portion whereupon the portion 22 springs back into its normal position whereat lip 27 engages a portion of the mounting panel 10.

When the plug connector 11 is inserted into position on the mounting panel 10, as described above, it is temporarily retained therein by the retaining lips 19 and 20 and the extended lip 53 engaging the mounting panel adjacent to the edges 76 and 77, While the extended lip 28 engages the mounting panel 10 adjacent the edges 78 and 79 and the lip 27 of the resilient portion 22 engages the mounting panel 10 adjacent the edge 79. Upon attachment of a relay 12 by inserting its bolt 42 into the apertures 43 and 44 of the plug connector 11 and mounting panel 10, respectively, a permanent and secure connection is made thereof upon screwing a nut 45 onto the projecting end of the bolt 42.

Having described a mounting means for electromagnetic devices as one specific embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that this form is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the information rather than to limit the number of forms which it may assume; and, it is to be further under-stood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form shown to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a plug connector having bifurcated portions with an open aperture between such portions, a flat mounting panel having openings for receiving said bifurcated portions of said plug connector with a strip of the mounting panel passing through said open aperture of said plug connector, said plug connector having holding means including resiliently biased holding means for retaining the plug connector in its openings of said mounting panel, an electromagnetic device having contact means adapted to be received by said plug connector tor supporting said device therein on one side and for making electrical connections therewith, a projecting bolt having one end connected to said electromagnetic device and the free end thereof passing through matching holes in the plug connector and in said strip of the panel passing through said opening aperture of said plug connector, and fastening means cooperating with the free end of said bolt and abutting against said strip of said mounting panel for permanently securing both said electromagnetic device and said plug connector to said mounting panel.

2. A structure according toclaim 1 wherein said plug connect-or includes projections disposed on the corners of one surface thereof for guiding said electromagnetic device and its projecting bolt attached thereto into its attaching position.

3. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said plug connector includes projections disposed on the opposite ends of its other side which are insertable through the openings of said panel for receiving said bifurcated portions of said plug connector and eiTect-ive to form a Wiring channel.

4. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said bifurcated portions are different in size and wherein said openings for receiving said bifurcations are of corresponding size, whereby said connector is assured of appropriate positioning for receiving said electromagnetic device in a particular position relative to said plug connector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,198 6/ 1948 Hasselhorn 200-87 2,627,385 2/1953 Tinnerman 248-27 2,891,103 6/1959 Swengel 174-453 3,118,039 1/1964 Soscia 200-168 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLUG CONNECTOR HAVING BIFURCATED PORTIONS WITH AN OPEN APERTURE BETWEEN SUCH PORTIONS, A FLAT MOUNTING PANEL HAVING OPENINGS FOR RECEIVING SAID BIFURCATED PORTIONS OF SAID PLUG CONNECTOR WITH A STRIP OF THE MOUNTING PANEL PASSING THROUGH SAID OPEN APERTURE OF SAID PLUG CONNECTOR, SAID PLUG CONNECTOR HAVING HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING RESILIENTLY BIASED HOLDING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE PLUG CONNECTOR IN ITS OPENINGS OF SAID MOUNTING PANEL, AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE HAVING A CONTACT MEANS ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BY SAID PLUG CONNECTOR FOR SUPPORTING SAID DEVICE THEREIN ON ONE SIDE AND FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THEREWITH, A PROJECTING BOLT HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE AND THE FREE END THEREOF PASSING THROUGH MATCHING HOLES IN THE PLUG CONNECTOR AND IN SAID STRIP OF THE PANEL PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENING APERTURE OF SAID PLUG CONNECTOR, AND FASTENING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE FREE END OF SAID BOLT AND ABUTTING AGAINST SAID STRIP OF SAID MOUNTING PANEL FOR PERMANENTLY SECURING BOTH SAID ELECTROMAGETIC DEVICE AND SAID PLUG CONNECTOR TO SAID MOUNTING PANEL. 